Competition “Improving Seismic Resilience of Traditional Bhutanese Buildings” launched by the World Bank

The project "Improving Seismic Resilience of Traditional Bhutanese Buildings" was the subject of a competition launched by the World Bank and requested by the Division for the Conservation of Heritage Sites (DCHS) of the Department of Culture - Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs of Bhutan.Atelier in.vitro, in partnership with NCREP - Consultoria em Reabilitação do Edificado e Património, Lda, won the project for two villages launched in the contest, in the district of Punakha - Tana and Pathari, which included the study of 18 traditional rammed earth buildings.The main objective was to assess the main constructive features of these valuable examples of Bhutan's vernacular architecture, in order to better understand its structural behaviour and propose measures to mitigate seismic risk. The surveys were carried out house by house, supported by a guide provided by DCHS, and included inquiries to the artisans involved in the construction of this traditional houses. A close collaboration between architecture and engineering was essential for this particular work, as well as the support of local technicians.